Steamboat Springs High School freshman Randall Nelson is shown here after basketball practice Jan. 10. A social mixer and tennis exhibition will be held March 2 at the Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs to help the Nelson family pay legal bills.

How to help

To help the Nelson family with legal bills, make a non-tax deductible check to the "Randall Nelson Defense Fund" at Wells Fargo Bank, PO Box 774888, Steamboat Springs, CO., 80477-4888

Steamboat Springs  Almost six weeks after 15-year-old Randall Nelson was found not guilty of assault and disorderly conduct charges stemming from a racially charged February 2007 incident that left another boy with a broken jaw, legal and financial ramifications remain for the family.

In defending his son, now a freshman at Steamboat Springs High School, Brad Nelson learned a tough lesson: Good legal defense doesn't come cheap.

"If you want the best, you pay for the best," said Brad Nelson, who faces more than $40,000 in legal fees and other expenses related to his son's defense.

The legal bill for the family's Steamboat Springs attorney, Kris Hammond, is about $25,000.

"I'm sure I put in more than 100 hours of work into the defense," Hammond said. "With having an expert witness, who they had to drive up to Steamboat twice from Denver, having to pay for his expenses and transportation, and also having hired an investigator to work on the case, it's possible they accumulated around an additional $15,000."

Hammond's work on the case included interviewing witnesses, finding expert testimony and time spent in numerous hearings preceding the trial, including the prosecution's attempt to block the Nelsons' expert witness, Dr. Wilbert Miles, a psychologist.

Hammond's legal work on the case may be over - neither he nor the Nelsons expect the victim's family, which has moved out of the area, to file a civil case - but the case still is making waves in the legal community.

Hammond and Miles will speak to University of Colorado at Boulder Law School students today to discuss the Nelsons' case and the larger issue of how black youths are treated in the American judicial system.

During Randall Nelson's years at Steamboat Springs Middle School, the other boy allegedly taunted and threatened Randall because of his race. Randall also spoke out against harassment in Steamboat schools when he was in fifth grade.

Administrators depicted the incident as a wake-up call about harassment in local schools, which prompted a revamp in policies for the Steamboat Springs School District - where 91.7 percent of students are white, according to enrollment figures for the 2007-08 school year.

"Our defense was self-defense, but you can't have a defense where you punched someone because they made you mad," said Hammond, who noted that Miles demonstrated to the jury that Randall Nelson indeed was threatened.

"He helped explain the constant use of the "N" word by the victim created in Randall's mind a threat," Hammond said. "There is no other word like it in the English language. It conveys a threat without coming out and saying it. ... There is no nice way for a white person to say that to a black person, regardless what the meaning is."

Brad Nelson said he's proud that his son's harassment shed light on racial intolerance, but that lesson came with a heavy price. The mounting legal bills may force the family to move from Steamboat, where they have lived for more than 10 years.

"That's still definitely in the cards, no doubt," he said. "My wife has been on a medical leave of absence for seven to eight months because of the stress of this, and one income in Steamboat doesn't quite make it. : Due to financial reasons, we may have to jump ship here, unfortunately."

Some Steamboat residents are determined to keep the Nelsons from leaving.

On Sunday, a social mixer and tennis exhibition will be held at the Tennis Center of Steamboat Springs to benefit the Randall Nelson Defense Fund.

"It's almost regrettable that we are going to throw him back in the spotlight again, but, at the same time, Brad said (Randall) understands he has a greater statement to make now," said Jim Swiggart, who helped organize the fundraiser.

There is a $25 minimum donation at the event, which will feature an exhibition doubles match with Swiggart and his wife, Stacy Swiggart, against tennis pros Marie Matrka and Andy Caress.

Patti Asbury, who also helped organize the exhibition and mixer, said the event is about keeping a community asset - the Nelsons - in Steamboat for the long haul.

"We want this to be a happy occasion," she said. "This is like the grand finale for all the family has gone through."

Bottom line is he broke another kid's jaw. Now comes all the BS about the 'psychological' factor. Baloney! If you are not being physically attacked before you assault someone you are guilty of assault. When this case comes to trial I just hope the jury is able to see the game the defense is playing.

justathought...You've got it backwards. The only thing Politically Correct in this affair was the Not Guilty verdict. The prosecutor was justified in bringing charges as he is allowed to under the law in any case of injury caused by physical assault.

I can only imagine what the outcome of this would of been if there were no funds for a good lawyer like Mr. Hammond, on the case! I suspect that the DA's office would of received a lame compromise to a plea bargain of some kind and Randal would receive a major assault charge on his record! It just goes' to show you that justice in the American judicial system is only "justice" when you have money or commit to bankruptcy to achieve it! If you have no cash, you fall victim to the law! You are guilty until proven innocent in our system, not the other way around! The way I see it, the Nelsons are being victimized by the system through financial hardship! That's wrong!

this is enough to make blogs blood boil!! the poor kid is subjected to years of racial harassment, finally defends himself and now his family is stricken with $40,000 in legal fees. blog thinks there are plenty of good lawyers who would of taken this case 'pro bono'. hats off to the swiggarts for organizing a fund raiser! blog also thinks the other kid got off easy with just a broken jaw. where blog grew up using the N word as a racial taunt would get you beaten within inches of your life!

freshair: I agree that Randall should have refrained from breaking the other boys jaw, however,my children rode the bus with the alleged victim and Randall wasn't the only child this boy made racial remarks toward. It was the Jews, the Blacks, the Latinos. Everyone was fair game to ths boy. I remember my kids shocked at the boys behavior. I remember my child telling me that Randall was being harassed by the boy weeks before Randall finally couldn't take it any more.
I applaud the Nelson's for the fine job they have done acclimating Randall to this mostly white community. Randall is a caring sensative kid. He did what many of us would do given the same situation.

They were not prosecuted for a hate crime because none of those who investigated the incident believed they committed a hate crime. Hung on Aug. 31, 2006, the nooses had been taken down instantly. Only a few students ever saw them. Case closed.

September, October and November passed at Jena High with no racial conflict emanating from the noose incident of August.

On Dec. 1, however, Robert Bailey Jr. tried to crash a party at the Fair Barn in Jena. One Justin Sloan, 22, not a student, put a fist in his face. So witnesses and Bailey reported to police, and Sloan was prosecuted for battery.

On Dec. 2, Bailey and two friends jumped a white male entering the "Gotta Go" grocery. When the latter ran to get a shotgun out of his car, they wrested it from him and took it. Two witnesses at the "Gotta Go" agreed.

Two days later came the "schoolyard fight." Only this was no fight. Black students barricaded an exit to the gym and lay in wait for Justin Barker. As Barker went for another exit, he was struck in the head from behind by Mychal Bell. Multiple witnesses say Barker fell unconscious as a gang of eight or 10 blacks stomped and kicked him in the head. The assistant principal who reached Barker thought he was dead. Barker's emergency room bill ran to more than $5,000.

When the six were arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder, none of them and none of the witnesses mentioned the noose incident. It had had nothing to do with this vicious racist assault.

After the charges were reduced to battery, Bell, tried as an adult, was indeed convicted by an all-white jury because no blacks answered the summons to the jury pool. Why was Bell prosecuted as an adult? Because he had four prior convictions for crimes of violence.

After his conviction was overturned, Bell was ordered retried as a juvenile. Rather than face the same 17 witnesses, he pleaded guilty in December to hitting Barker from behind, slamming his head into a concrete beam and kicking him in the head. Sentenced to 18 months in juvenile detention, he agreed to testify against his co-conspirators.

While some $500,000 has been raised for the Jena Six defense, its whereabouts is unknown. Bailey did pose on the Internet grinning, however, with $100 bills in his mouth. Bell's mom is said to be driving a new Jaguar, and Bailey's mom a new Beamer. Two other Jena Sixers, Carwin Jones and Bryant Purvis, appeared in rapper attire on Black Entertainment Television as presenters of a Hip-Hop Award.

A week ago, 6-foot 6-inch Purvis, who had transferred to Hebron High in Carrollton, Texas, was charged with assault, choking a student and ramming his head into a bench.

And that's the Saga of The Jena Six. It belongs right up there with the Rev. Al's other classics: Tawana Brawley and the Duke rape case.

Too many people have been and will be put into this position until some laws get changed. If you're prosecuted and found not guilty, the prosecutors should be responsible for your legal fees, at least up to the amount it cost the taxpayers to turn your life upside down. This might just force the prosecutor into using a little common sense or get booted out of office. The law suits and politically correct prosecutions in this country are wayyy out of hand.

The incident in Jena shows the extent of the brainwashing and Politically Correct slant by virtually all of the media when it comes to reporting black-on-white crime and violence. Do you think you know what actually happened in Jena based on what you read and saw in the most of the mainstream media? Think again!

The Jena 6 Scam

by Patrick J. Buchanan

"Some Americans do not understand why the sight of a noose causes such a visceral reaction," declared President Bush to the White House gathering for Black History Month.

As the Washington Post rushed to remind us, President Bush was "responding to news coverage of such episodes as the 'Jena Six.'"

But if history is about truth, not myth, that news coverage deserves another look, before the Jena Six enter the history books alongside Emmett Till and "the Scottsboro Boys."

By now, most folks know the media story. White students at Jena High in Louisiana hung nooses on a tree to warn black students not to sit under it. After a fistfight over this racist outrage, black kids in the fight were indicted for attempted murder, while the white racists who hung the nooses walked away with a verbal spanking.

Last September, 20,000 traveled to Jena to march against this prosecutorial outrage. Fortunately, however, there are still a few real journalists around. Among them are Craig Franklin, assistant editor of the Jena Times, whose wife teaches at Jena High, and Charlotte Allen, who wrote an extended piece for the Weekly Standard. According to Allen and Franklin, here are the facts and chronology you have been denied by the Mainstream Media.

There never was a "whites-only" tree at Jena High. Both races sat under it, though whites congregated there. The nooses, or lariats, were the work of three young teens, who got the idea from watching "Lonesome Dove" on TV, where rustlers are hanged.

Franklin says they were a joke aimed at white friends on the rodeo team. As they were painted in Jena High's gold and black, Allen reports that the kids said the nooses were directed at a rival school's Western-themed football team.

When school officials confronted them, all were remorseful. All had black friends, and none knew the nooses were offensive to blacks.

Far from being let off, they spent "nine days at an alternative facility, followed by two weeks of in-school suspension, Saturday detentions, attendance at Discipline Court and evaluations by licensed mental-health professionals."

This family should be suing the school system to recover their legal costs for "pain and suffering" this boy had to endure from bullies. If any of us who own businesses allowed this kind of conduct to go unchecked among our employees, that's exactly what would happen to us.

Then again, there's always the thing about lawyers and judges scratching each others' backs. Maybe the prosecutor gets favors back from the defense attorney.

Everybody who thinks that Kris Hammond would take a case against the school system while Judge Garrecht's wife sits as a member of the school board, please raise your hand.

School justice, Legal justice, City justice, and Civil justice all have different meanings and are applied inconsistently.

Ever hear of plea bargaining at the school? "just admit you did it, so we can move on" It happens all the time, we need a scape goat.

Ever been proven innocent of a crime but still have to pay the bills of other for a civil trial(OJ simpson)

Ever had your liquor liscense revoked, and had a plea bargain offered, "just admit you did it and we'll give your liscence back". That would work at the school, but not with grown adults.

How many times at a school does behavior get "wrote off". This shows it happens too often, and unfortunately it hit the boiling point, and a kid got a broken jaw. I tell you what, that got the point across: sometime biggots need a reality check.

This is a very sad situation! Once more the DA and her staff has VICTIMIZED another innocent person. Congradulations to the young man and his family for standing up for what is RIGHT. Shame on ROSINK and DEANGELO for attempting to prosecute this case. They are cloaked by the deep pockets of the tax payer and can not be sued for their unjustified and unscrupulous actions.
Not only was this young man and his family financially attacked by the actions of the DA, his reputation was seriously hurt. We as a community need to assist this family in any way we can. I am going to make my contribution. I do not know the family. I do know the DA and she and her staff need to be ushered to the state line.
This is just another case where injustice has been administered by Rostinks office. Seems lately they are really trying to make a name for themselves. They make a habit of financially hurting anyone that they can. The people should be able to recover their financial losses from the court and the DA and her staff individually.
Please do not let this go un-noticed. YOU COULD BE THEIR NEXT VICTIM!!!!!!!!!!!

Geeze Freshair...let it go. You want to re-try every case that you dont personally agree with the outcome on . Give some creedence to the system and the Juror's who actually sat through the entire trial and heard all of the evidence rather than handing down a judgment based on information you got from the media that you so ironically criticize for "Liberal Brain Washing"

You folks just don't get it. Randall Bell may be a fine upstanding young man but he assaulted somebody and broke their jaw. What you're ok'ing is that anytime somebody says anything that we don't like, we have a right to physically assault them. You're letting emotion get in the way of common sense and, in the case of the jury, they were also swayed by emotional sentiments, not the facts. The law only allows you to physically defend yourself and throw the first punch when somebody gets in your face and threatens you with violence. In the case of the 2 kids, this event had happened many, many times before and there was never any violence associated with it. Wake up and smell the roses, if you apply the same faulty logic as you and the jury did, society would be in chaos. Any physical act of violence would be justified by anything anybody said that you diidn't like.

OMG....Which cave entrance is yours FreshAir? I will be sure to give you a wide berth. Castration of the white male in the 60's? (no comment on this it speaks for itself) The peace movement is a Liberal Movement?(Then you admit that conservatives are war-mongers?) Swayed by emotional sentiments? (your post is nothing but emotional drivel). I have more black friends than most people in this town? (How do your black friends feel about being in the rolodex under "B"? or is it "N") Im sorry I have digressed...the real issue is the case was legally heard and tried and the kid is not guilty... Period ..end of discussion...he didn't get off on some PC technicality or some other B.S. NOT GUILTY. Live with it.

quityourwhining....The only thing emotional on this subject is the not guilty verdict and those agreeing with it. But I would never expect an emotional drivel expert like yourself to understand it. The Nelson kid responded to words with violence. That would be, and has been, a guilty verdict in any locale where the inhabitants are not blinded by Political Correctness.

Gee,
I don't see any civil lawsuits being filled by the racist mouth of this little issue! Is that the next saga? I hope not! But, I guess time will tell.
I don't agree with racial slurs and I feel those who use them do so with ignorance or maliciously! There is no joking around, period! I came from a predominately white middle class area that was highly prejudice. When I ventured out into the world, I received a formal "street" education about race. I was happy and fortunate, that it was not negative education.
As for freshie, I don't condone violence but, street justice happens! I prefer to be judged by 12 than carried by 6!

"The problems with racism on campus began two years ago when an older boy sucker-punched him in the school lunchroom. Nelson did not fight back.

The next year, that boy, who wasn't the one involved in the February incident, came from Steamboat Springs High School with his friends and tried to pick a fight. Nelson said he didn't want to fight.

The Routt County Sheriff's Office investigated that incident, and a deputy testified at trial that he told Nelson that he had the right to defend himself and that if he ever felt threatened to make a fist and punch the guy in the mouth.

In February, Nelson was in the school gym when the 14-year-old walked in with a buddy and asked, "Where is my slave boy?"

The buddy pushed Nelson and then the teen stepped toward him. Nelson threw the punch and broke the teen's jaw. Hammond says the teen, who has since moved away, was in the hospital for surgery on his jaw. "

uhh, he was being attacked, threatened. He didn't punch the kid in the jaw for any other reason than self defense, after previously doing nothing when hit. Get the facts straight before making judgements

Freshair- Why do your posts make it sound unbelievable, then? And I'd be the first person to slug someone for calling out a racial slur, and I commend Randall for doing it, personally, but it's not the way to solve things. Also- according to the original story, Randall tried non-violent ways to get him to stop a few times.

And I don't think you can prove "personal" experience as an anonymous poster. Why do you think I told you to go tell it to Randall's father personally? Simply because you won't for fear of reprisal. If words don't hurt...go for it. You should have no problem. Let me know so I can be there to laugh my butt off and post a picture here on this thread!

Kielbasa... My point isn't that words don't hurt, but being called names does not justify a violent response in a court of law. I can guarantee you that anybody calling a stranger an ethnic insult is risking a knuckle sandwich or worse, but who in their right mind is going to deliberately do that or even suggest it? Only a shmuck like you to make a rhetorical point. Grow up!

"This was long before the feminization and castration of the white male in this country beginning in the 60's by the various Liberal movements such as the peace movement, Women's Lib etc. It has produced people and men, like yourself, who have been trained to walk on eggshells on all matters relating to Race, Women's issues etc."

So it sounds like you're actually scared to say those types of things in public since you have to do it here anonymously. "White Male Castration." Yeah- that doesn't sound racist in the context YOU put it, and it's always the anonymous people who can say they have this or that, and grew up this or that. Suuuuuurrrrre.

Sounds like someone else needs to grow a pair while I grow up.

Way I see it? I don't have black, hispanic, asian, etc. friends...I just friends in general.

Kiel baby, what you see is what you get from me, be it online or in the flesh. Being an old school guy from before the feminization and castration of males, and white males like yourself in particular, commenced, I feel no obligation to give anybody a free pass on anything because of the color of their skin. Growing up in New York at the time I did, I had more than my share of fistfights with every race and nationality represented . Equal opportunity violence. Nobody ever took a whipping and went to the cops over it. You took your lumps and tried not to get caught with the same thing next time. All it takes is being suckerpunched one time to make sure it never happens again. So I hope maybe even you can understand how funny I find it to be lectured on street style by a cyberspace troll like yourself who is so PC in everything you have ever expressed an opinion on.

Free pass to someone of color, says the anonymous person hiding behind the computer curtain! Too funny! Maybe you should go to Hayden and hang with the Bore. It seemed he was afraid of his own words, too. Birds of a feather, poop together.

the bullie got what he deserved..said it once will say it again..I'll bet he doesn't pick on to many any more..funny how he left town..good for Nelson for standing up for himself..i don't advocate violence but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do..i'm surprised he took this guys crap for as long as he did

freshair:
unfortunately even with the Denver Post article there is still so many pieces missing. They neglected to state how many times and how often Randall tried to get help from school administrators who did NOTHING, in the years leading up to the altercation at hand.
It is very easy to make judgements without knowing the full story, and its understandable, but you can't come off as being so sure you are correct unless you do some research about it.
The Nelson family is a great bunch to have in the valley, I really do hope they can stay. I know I'd miss em

FreshAir:
I love circular arguments. It must be a conservative thing. (King George is well rehearsed at it) I asked a whether you read a post I made and you say 'yes I read the post but you dont understand what you are saying/writing' How can I argue that...boy you got me there... I guess I could say "yes I do" then you say "no you dont" etc etc.....but I wont go there

424- That's up to you. I have a personal problem with anonymity on the internet. As you can tell, it's caused nothing but rumor and innuendo on the Nerney and Fire thread. Anyone can say anything whether true or not and not be held responsible for it.

They get banned, get another Yahoo account, and come right back. That's why I also say (and know personally) people who have done this and have multiple identities on here, that's why it's a vocal minority.

hey quit....you do have a reading comprehension and a memory problem, don't you? I replied that in your first post, the one you referred to, you mentioned nothing of the specific details contained in the Denver article. So I guess you'd rather avoid that obvious oversight, huh? I suggest you look up the definition of the word 'circular'. If you're going to try and divert the focus from your screw-up, nothing helps like using the appropriate language to assist you in your intent.

Just want to add one more thing before I close down shop, unless you've ever been a white student in a majority black public school system, you don't know what Real physical violence and mental abuse is. On a daily basis. Not to say that what happened to the Nelson kid was okay but that compared to what still goes on in public schools where whites are a small minority, it was truly childs' play. And the school administrators and teachers do nothing.

You're confusing cord with quityerwhining, kielboy. But you are non-anonymous and confused. What a brave boy you are, proudly revealing your contentious opinions on a public forum. May I suggest that if you should ever be so unfortunate as to incur the wrath of some cyber penmate who also decides to punch your ticket at a time and place of his choosing, that you make sure that those near and dear to you inscribe your headstone with those same words, But I Was Non-Anonymous. (:>)

Bring'em on! I was in the Army and have no problem with the Make My Day law and have no problem defending myself and my family. If they steal my identity, it won't get them far. Might even improve it for me! Plus, why should I care? As you printed: "it's just words."

And since I was pretty easily finding out the Bore's identity, your ID should be no problem, as with any other cyber-geek.

I'd love to have a battle of the wits with you but you are obviously un-armed. At least I got you to use the dictionary so I guess one good thing has come of this "discussion". I will go real s.. l ..o.. w.. this time so as not to loose you. My original post said in so many words...quit passing judgment on a trial case you do not have all (or any) of the facts on. Being that you are pompous enough to insist that your race relation battle scars are much worse than anyone else's it must be tough being you.

You say: "the bullie got what he deserved..said it once will say it again..I'll bet he doesn't pick on to many any more..funny how he left town..good for Nelson for standing up for himself..i don't advocate violence but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do..i'm surprised he took this guys crap for as long as he did".

If I'm not mistaken you were against us going in and taking out Saddam weren't you? What is the difference metaphorically speaking?

I must wonder why the DA wanted to prosecute this young man. Maybe to show their authority and attempt to pick an easy VICTIM. I am so thankful that their victim was NOT SO EASY AFTER ALL!!!
Why did DA Rostink not charge a violation of the HATE CRIMES STATUTE??? It was clearly a race motivated incident that brought on the results.
Again , CONGRADULATIONS to this young man and his family for not accepting this atrocious injustice without a fight and being victorious in the end.
Again, I will make a contribution to their defense fund and I do not even know them. I also urge everyone to do the same even if it only a small contribution.
Remember, you or your family could be the next victim of ROSINK and DEANGELO!!!

BoatMaster- Already had someone contact me about the anonymity thing. Working on that right soon, because the anonymous thing is getting out of hand, as I mentioned about the Nerney and Fire Protection threads.

We'll see what comes of it, but if an anonymous person has the right to stay that way, I have the right to challenge it, and will continue to do so.

I do thank you for the kind words, though. Read enough of my posts, and you'll see I have no problem with stooping to any degree. It's who I am and I make no pretense otherwise. That's why I don't hide from it.

First, do I support violence, no.....
second Good for you Randall! my child goes to school with you, and you have lots of support! My child also heard several remarks made by this boy.
Now let me enlighten the public to another example of the SS school's bully policy, several years ago, my child was made the target of another young man, he was harrassed daily, had several (hundreds of dollars worth of equipment required for his course of study,) stolen from him. He was subject to name calling, physical abuse and teasing by this young man. This young man's (I will call him "bully") fingerprints were found on items stolen from my child. Several complaints were made to the school. When said items were recovered, we were told by the SS police that we could press charges, would would have resulted in Bully being sent somewhere else, we choose not to, out of respect of our child (wish now we had pressed charges, my kid is pretty tough) this same bully the following year, in the presence of three faculty members, attacked my child FROM BEHIND, and tackled him to the ground and punched my kid in the back of the head. The punishiment? my kid got two days of in school supension for "fighting" He never threw a punch. (Although, we have since told our child that if anyone hits him, fight for all he is worth) I do have to commend mr Bishop, who was put in the position of the schools policy of "hands off" even though my kid was attacked from behind, and never touched the other Bully, as witnessed (thank goodness) by three staff members, still has a permanant record of 'fighting" in school. Do I support the hands off policy? of course! keep your hands to yourself! BUT! If provoked I have told my kid to protect himself, as he is to be punished anyway. the solution? maybe readdressing the policy of the school. Would I have given consent to my kid to fight back under other circumstances? no, I dont condone or support violence in anyway. But I do support protecting ones right to go to school in a safe enviornment.
No, this has nothing to do with with the racial crap that Randall had to put up with, I am just stating that maybe if the school had stepped up to the plate and taken the other kid in hand YEARS before this incident might not have happened.
As to the legal cost, yes we will contribute to the fund, I agree with other suggestions that the lawyers involved should take this case pro bono and set a precedence that we are not going to accept such slurs in our diverse community.
Again, Randall, I have heard for years that these comments and inappropriate behavior has been sent your way, my apologies for not speaking up before, you should be commended for putting up with it for so long before finally busting the brats jaw. No, dont think that violence is ever the answer, but thank you for standing up for your self, and agian I am so very sorry for you and your family for this rotten experience, you have our support.

The D.A. and police in this town are so freking bored they have to invent crime...self defense is not a crime...why didn't they just take some statements and let this go..?? making a high school kid go through this...and then the school dept. does nothing about it...I would agree about sueing the school...if my kid was getting harrassed at school I'd be plenty pissed off...remember Columbine...Klebold and Harris got picked on all the time and look what happened there....the school did nothing about that either until it was too late...bullies are the ones that should be getting the riot act from the school not the victims.......

Have to agree with Freerider here:"self-defense is not a crime." And would like to steer the discussion on the D.A. and police:and the school system for not doing something bouts dis waaaay long ago:yeah sure "guess it's just another colored boy." It was indeed criminal for the D.A. to pursue this. Don't ya get it:again:"it was self freakin defense." So aren't ya posters/bloggers just thinking that there are just little bits of discrimination/racial crap going on here? This needs to be investigated:civil liberties people need to be looking at this:for I have been experiencing this same racial/discrimination crap in this town for way too many years. Gotta stop sometime?

Wish the Nelson's would have consulted with my crazy ways first:for come on Hammond...step up to the plate and pro bono this case:not doing so basically reveals something about you. Why pro bono?:because it is just what is right. For what it if:just what if the Nelson's didn't have a dime?...huh?...come on Hammond:whats the heck youd done then? "If you want the best, you pay for the best,":Brad bespeaks of. Yeah Hammond:you are one good attorney:but if you would have:again:done what was right and pro bono this case (and what is right is:if you want equaility:then ya gotta give up something:know what I mean?):and dude:not only would have had the respect of the community:but man:you would have been booked for your entire freakin attorney life. You alone could have represented all the boats attorney's and reversed the ways many of us view lawyers and the legal system. You still have time homeboy. Could have ran for office or something:crap:I would have supported ya:not now homeboy.

Fresh air:man:nuttin fresh bouts you. Know what I mean?:walk like a duck:talk like:

Although I am anonymous at this point, I would like to assure you there is only one ID I use. In an earlier removed post I alluded to a penchant for truth and justice. These are in fact principles I hold dear. You will also notice I try to adhere to standard debate practices.

We may not agree on a regular basis but I do find your arguments to have some merit.

No, I was not taken to court or charged. I didn't break anybody's jaw . . . or neck . . . which I was perfectly capable of doing.

Yes, we should support the Nelson family's son. He was tortured beyond endurance for a child his age.

Yes, we should let the DA prosecute when bodily injury requiring hospital treatment is inflicted. It's not necessary to strike a "killing blow" in a school yard tussle. A nice, sharp bi+c# slap would have been perfectly appropriate.

The kid who provoked the blow should also be prosecuted for a hate crime.

Haddley..I don't recall stateing that if I did well I retract my statement we need to keep the Middle East at bay if not occupied..haven't been many attacks..i thank our brave men and women who volinteer to serve and defend our rights your rights and everybody elses and defend us from those who wish to do us harm..i heard on the radio last week they cann't afford to take us out we are their main consumer of oil..hope it all ends soon

yes suport the Nelsons...I'll say yes burt I really don't think Randell meant to break his jaw..on a personall note I'm glad he did..DA take it further hold the bullies parents accountable for their son actions.you lead by example..still say family has moved for a reason

I think having a benifit to help the Nelson's is an excellent idea. They are a wonderful family and deserve our support. I love the fact that people here in Steamboat all rally together to support eachother. We really are like one big family. I love this community. But one thing bothers me about this... Is Chris Hammond so pressed for money that he had to charge the Nelsons, a family who cares for foster children, full price for his legal counsiling? Has Mr. Hammond ever heard of Pro Bono? Yes, I understand that Mr. Hammond is one of the best and that without his services the Nelson's may have lost the case, but come on. If not Pro Bono, how about maybe a discount of sorts. I know that everyone must make a living, but something tells me that Mr. Hammond would have got along just fine if he didnt charge his normal fee in this case. He would have also gained something much greater, respect.

I hope that there is a strong turn out at the benifit this Sunday at the tennis center. But I wonder if Mr. Hammond will be attending the benifit, or at least donating, but then again wouldnt he just be giving money to himself? I know that collectively this town has a big heart, but Mr. Hammond, where is yours?

PaddleFisher:
Since you brought this up... I find it interesting that there have not been any attacks on the US. Is it we that are kicking butt or is it there is no need for additional provocation? We've already got our hands full in Iraq and Afghanistan and Exxon keeps posting record profits right? Lockheed Martin has enough contracts to choke a horse. Haliburton is rolling in no bid multi-billion dollar contracts without any oversight. Defend our rights to what?...be able to by $3/gal gas and all the crap we can cram in our car from Wal-mart? And...the real topper...please explain this one... Defend ourselves from those who wish to do us harm...who are THEY? and more importantly WHY do they wish to do us harm? We are mostly all God fearing folk who think everyone should look and think like us right? We spread democracy around the world on the end of a bayonet. Seriously, why on earth would anyone want to do us harm?

Paddlefisher,
I honestly can't remember either, and now I am sorry that I brought it up in this thread. QYW, you sound like a great spokesperson for Al queda or the old guard communists. Is your arguement class based, ideological, or religious? You seem to hate the US on all fronts. Out of respect for the Nelsons please don't answer on this thread. Open a new one and we can talk.

where i believe we shouldn't try to froce democary down someoes throath jeees look at ours..do you not think that these people would just a soon decapate us as look at us...so maybe we should police ourseves with these contracts..government is courpt we all now it maybe now t is finally catching up to us..now we rep what we soo

violence is never good, but I am afraid I need to agree with id, a B*&^%^ slap may have helped, but when you figure in the years of ingoring the taunts, I still say good for Randall, i know how my kid felt and how much it bugged him, daily teasing. Columbine is a nice example. I also agree that the school should be held accountable for allowing this to go on.
The "keep your hands to yourself" policy apparently only benifits the bullies.
the racial slurs were not only directed to Randall, and the fact that no one ever pulled the other young man, (OR his parents, legal guardians ect) aside and put a stop to it is unforgivable.

Not one to blog, but feel motivated to speak to Curmudgeon's rage on Mr. Hammond and pro bono. Why is it that there is always the guy yelling to have someone else give his lively hood away? Kris represents a lot of good people getting a raw deal. He does it well. He helps these people. Why shouldn't he get paid? Do hotels give away rooms to the homeless? City market handing out food to the hungry? What about the electrician who said Kris shouldn't call him for work. Does he charge people based on how much they need electrical work done? What is really ironic is how many of you all judging Kris won't show up and throw $25.00 in the pot at the fund raiser. Guess who I think will be there.........the Hammonds. Why don't some of you bloggers leave your computer tomorrow, go contribute to the fund raiser and then sit and write about all the citizens stepping up to help the Nelsons now that the fight is won. Great for all of them! But lets not slam the guys who have been fighting for the Nelsons triumph all along.

The bully got his. Good triumphed over evil. The SBS community was able to see a good lawyer do his job --- serve his client.

Now the only sticky detail is to get the lawyer paid. The lawyer has done a good thing --- well, a great thing --- first he has won the case, heck, he's the instrument through which good triumphed and evil was vanquished and he has financed the case thus far.

Now it is time to get the lawyer paid. He is entitled to payment and he has been a champ to finance the case thus far.

So, SBS, get up and get the dude paid and get it done now. Print an address and I will send a check.

Nice job, Counselor!

And, hey, things have worked out pretty damn good so let's keep them that way.

Lawyers are slimy profiteers who practice in buildings funded by us, in a system funded by us, and under a license granted by US.

They charge what they do because they can. Period. If they could charge more and still get customers, they would.

Sorta makes you wonder why anybody would take a job as a judge for only $100k - $110k, doesn't it? Maybe the reason Mr. Hammond needs his fee paid is so that he can funnel the required percentage back to his buddies on the bench.

I'm not sure what nimrod made the comment, he didn't have to break his jaw. Obviously you have never been in a real fight. I welcome you to %#^!$ slap me and let's see who gets the next couple of punches in. Some of you folks must live in fairy tale world!!!

Ameba:I was in...still am in:way too many fights for similar reasons within this article. Just sort of follows me for some stupid reason(s). Soos:my big bro:why he teach me to fight:man:he was one bad a# fighter:and while he was beating the living crap outta me:I says to him:what the he!! you doing that for? He says:" shudup stupid:I teach your punk a# how to fight:so you never have to fight":get it? Now:I'm a luver:and I only fight:when needed:know what I mean?...self-defense and when others are defenseless. So now:I teach my little guy how to fight:why?...well duh:so he doesn't ever have to fight. For he will know:such as me:there is no gray area when it comes to fighting. But most importantly what I teach is:don't be stupid!:understand and remove yourself from the confrontation before it happens:and use up all your resources 1st before you go into the ring. And if you find yourself in the ring:then it's all or nuttin homeboy. Man let me tell you:I really:really:hate bullies:bunch of p###s. Yeah this stupid slap on the face aint gonna get your sorry rear end no wheres.

Yeah, whatever. That's all good advice if you're behind the bank on Lincoln at 2 AM. The school yard in Routt County is a different story, and Nelson's family is lucky they're not being sued for $1,000,000 in addition to the $40,000 for the lawyer.

If you want to teach your kid to take a chance on pi$$ing away his future by killing somebody else in a street fight, you're the one with the problem. A blow that can break a jaw could also kill, and Nelson is the lucky one, because he didn't kill the other kid.

Frued:like yeah...I do agree with you...that stuff does happen. That's why I says...before you enter some stupid damn ring...which should be your damn last resort...use up all your resources 1st before doing anything stupid that could end yourself up in a stupid situation...you know...don't do the stupid thing. And homeboy...I'm not just talking bouts street fighting...which is for nuttin but p&%%#s too...because street fights are for stupid people who are too stupid to know where they were at in an unwanted:unwarranted stupid confrontation:duh. This aints bouts fists and kicks and stuff...I'm discussing white collar:racist:and other bully crap that goes on...know what I mean? If my little guy slap some dude who was bulling his sorry a around:I'd give him some talkin to:you know:like:"you weren't smart enough to be far away from this confrontation before it happened":see:now that's just plain stupid:confronting a bully:for all bullies:in all areas:are nuttin but p&&$#s:and he should know better enough that it just aint worth your time and efforts dealing with. Sure wish Randall Nelson would've been in my care:I would've shown him how to really deal with bullies:without fists:

I was raised to be a racist, but I got over it, thank God. You are right about all of this. That young man was lacking an education that only someone like you could give him. It's a damn shame, but it's true.

I have slowly discovered over the past 15 years that sometimes the white racists are unfair to white people too, and sometimes your choice is pay up or shut up or just get over it. Time is better spent finding a friendly place to work at getting ahead in life, and the people who would deny you that chance are living in their own Hell whether they know it or not.

The real shame is that somebody did not take that little $#!+ and nail his hide to a tree about 50 feet up, out in the forest, where nobody would ever find it, before Nelson had to deal with all this.

Hell no IDster...that boy didn't need to be nailed up to no freakin tree...that's something a bully would do...and yous knows whats I thinks bouts bullies. Sounds like he was in need of some serious luvin...right?...know what I mean? Remember...if you know how to defend your punk a*...don't need to fight...too busy luvin. I'm no eastern thinker here:but that violence thing:nuttin but for p$#!#s. Tough guys:are too damn tough to fight:for I've ran into those hommies before:and believe you me homeboy:these hommies will put you where you need to be...if you decide to go there.

I remember the names and faces of seven or eight bullies from high school. They all disappeared. No idea what happened to them. I suppose they either went to jail or did something stupid and died. I do remember one or two who died in drunken car crashes. Even the ones who had rich parents never amounted to anything as far as I can tell.

So much for the name-calling and slurrs.
The main issue here is that we, the people of Routt county and Steamboat Springs came out and supported Randal and his family.
Congradulations to all that participated.
I hope that this shows that we now need to address the DA's office and show Rostink and Deangelo ( it should be spelled De-----o because " angel" should not be included in his name) that we are fed up with them and their actions!!
I really am proud that "we the people" stood up and took action to help this worthy cause. Let this speak for us. WE ARE TIRED OF THE DA AND HER STAFF AND THEIR ACTIONS TO HARM INNOCENT PEOPLE!!!

Why did the DA even try to press charges..wonder if victums family had something to do with it..we will never know cause they are gone..once again a waste of tax payers money ...all he was doing was standing up for himself nothing more than the DA ,you or I wouldn't do

Roestink, good one. All I can say is that everyone had their chance to get rid of her last year around this very time. How many of you posters signed up when the petition was going around in all 3 counties of the 14th Judicial district? Her reign could have ended long ago. Not naggin', just pointing out a fact.